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Judge Mary E. Donovan of the Second District Court of Appeals served as visiting judge on the Supreme Court of Ohio today and heard oral arguments in one case. Judge Donovan also sat on the Supreme Court as a visiting judge in November 2006.
Judge Donovan was selected by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer to sit in place of Justice Maureen O’Connor, who recused herself from Roe v. Planned Parenthood S.W. Ohio Region, (Case No. 2007-1832).
According to the Ohio Constitution, in the event of a recusal by a Justice, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can select any of the 68 sitting Ohio appellate court judges to sit temporarily on the Supreme Court.
“We are pleased to have Judge Donovan join us today,” Chief Justice Moyer said. “Her participation provides the parties in the case with a court of seven justices despite the recusal of Justice O’Connor.”
The Roe case – out of Hamilton County – involves whether parents of a 14-year-old girl who had an abortion performed at the clinic without their prior notification can access medical records of all minors who obtained abortions through the clinic during the previous 10 years.
The Second District Court of Appeals serves Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami and Montgomery counties, and hears cases from county, municipal and common pleas courts as well as original actions in habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, procedendo and quo warranto.
Judge Donovan’s legal experience includes time as a private practice attorney, public defender and prosecutor. Before her election to the Second District Court of Appeals in 2005, Judge Donovan served on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. She also serves as a member of the University of Dayton School of Law Alumni Board, the Prison Advisory Board, and as vice president of the Volunteer Lawyers Project Board.
“It is always an honor and privilege to be selected by the Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court,” said Judge Donovan. “The limited number of cases that actually work their way up to the Supreme Court are interesting but complex. I am always excited to be a part of decisions that will make new law for the citizens of Ohio.”
Archived video of this case and every case argued before the Supreme Court of Ohio since March 2004 is available at: www.supremecourtofohio.gov/videostream.
For a high resolution, publication-quality photo of Judge Donovan, please click on the above photo or visit: http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Communications_Office/Press_Releases/2008/donovan_highres.zip.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250